The Loggie del Vaticano are
part of the three-story papal palace building, planned by
Pope Julian II and finished by Pope Leo X. The building is
the living quarter of the popes. And it is imaginable how
much emphasis and attention it therefore had.

Donato Bramante (1444 -
1514) was first commissioned with the architectural plans
and with the artistic configurations and their execution for
the building. After his death Raffael da Urbino (1483 - 1520
- also known as Raffaelo Santi or Raffaello Sanzio) received
the assignment. One of the grand masters during the
Renaissance, Raffael not only continued Bramante's plans,
but also added his own ideas. He designed every detail of
the frescos for which he drew from the limitless
mythologigal sources which had been discovered in the
antique world of Rome. Using mythology as a basis, Raffael
added artistic elements of his time, thus creating a typical
Renaissance melange. An assemblage of artists executed
Raffael's visions, among them Giulio Romano, Perin del Vagas
and Giovanni da Udine.

The copper etchings offered
here for sale are from a series engraved by Francesco
Rainaldi (Rome 1770 - 1805 Florence) after the drawings by
Carlo Lasinio (Treviso 1759 - 1838 Pisa). Lasinio based his
drawings on the imperial folio sized copper etchings by
Giovanni Volpato (Bassano 1733 - 1803 Rome) and Giovanni
Ottaviani (Rome 1735 - 1808). Instead of printing individual
pilaster frescos, Rainaldi put two of them side by side, a
breathtaking effect to the eye of the beholder.

The copper etchings were
printed in Rome in the year 1802. They have brilliant
gouache-hand-coloring, attentively executed even in the
smallest detail. The full page size measures ca. 54.5 x 41.5
cm ( 21.5 x 13.4"). An exquisite wall decoration for the
discriminating homeowner!

The condition is generally
very good. Normal age-connected flaws, such as general age
toning, miniscule spotting, minor wrinkles, minor creases,
minor repaired tears in margins if any at all etc. are
normal and will not be mentioned.